The following statement was written by David Barnes and shared by the Barnes family in September of 2024

I have suffered immensely since my boys were kidnapped to Russia in March 2019. My family, their family and my boys have suffered from the loss of their Father. My boys love me very much, but were kidnapped and fed lies day in and day out about their Father by their Mother, who used their natural love for her to manipulate them. She said she fled America to protect them.

I came to Russia as soon as possible after Covid to set up legal visitation, but shortly upon arrival as I was preparing a place for them, I was arrested. She used the same lies which had failed in an American court – a jury trial, even embellishing the lie after coming to Russia. I was convicted and sentenced to 21 years, the courts overlooking mountains of evidence proving my innocence, and breaking their own laws by not allowing any cross examination of David though he was of age and including Christian in the Indictment even though he never held a Russian passport in America, so he was not under Russian jurisdiction.

I have been imprisoned for 2 years and 8 months under horrendous conditions. My cell, typically 20’ x 20’ has held up to 15 men, with some sleeping on the floor. The cells are cramped, dirty, noisy, barking dogs, construction, yelling, banging, steel doors slamming at all hours of the night. There is constant television, making it impossible to sleep, read or even think. Non-edible, non-nutritious food, lack of sleep and exercise has undermined my health, going from a fit 190 pounds to a flabby, emaciated 150 pounds. Hot and humid in the summer and cold and poorly ventilated in the winter. I have been beaten, slapped, humiliated and ostracized. There are frequent fights between prisoners and unsolicited attacks in the night by prisoners on their perceived enemies. I live in constant fear.

The ‘Investigation’ lasted almost 8 months and the “Trial” a year and 4 months – 25 dates scheduled up to 6 weeks apart and 10 weeks during which nothing happened at Court.

The trips to Court are excruciatingly painful – lasting up to 16 hours for an hour or two at Court. I was taken to Court in a windowless truck with no toilet facilities where one would spend perhaps 8 hours for what would be a 10 minute drive held in tiny windowless ‘tanks’ at Court and placed in a cage in the Courtroom. It was psychologically and physically draining. I have not seen the sky for about 2 years and 8 months, except for a few minutes waiting for the truck. 

I contracted pneumonia and was sent to a prison hospital where I was ‘cured’ but therapy consisted of being sent to a regular cell, and there I remained immobilized, unable to stand and walk and developed severe back problems. I was never sick while in America prior to this.

The American Consul in Moscow has provided little assistance – a few visits and help with phone calls to America and a Bible (which took 8 months to get). The State Department; although they have known about my case for over a year due to family sending letters to officials and ABC news providing media coverage of the trial, have failed to declare me “wrongfully detained”, even though I meet 8 of the criteria in the Levinson Act and my innocence was proven in an American court before I came to Russia.

I implore the American government to do everything in its power to bring home the father of 2 American boys and give them the chance to reunite with their Father whom they love dearly.